Rod Stewart brings "One Last Time" to the heart of Cleveland
Rod Stewart performs at Rocket Arena in Cleveland on August 11, 2026, starting at 7:30 PM, with Richard Marx also confirmed as the special guest. The concert is part of the extended U.S. leg of the "One Last Time" tour, a project Stewart launched in 2024 that, following concerts in North America, Europe, Asia and other parts of the world, received additional dates in 2026 as well.
For the audience, the most important thing is what stands behind the tour's name: this is a program strongly built around Stewart's extensive song catalog. Organizers have listed titles such as "Maggie May", "You Wear It Well", "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?", "The First Cut Is the Deepest", "Tonight's the Night", "Infatuation", "Forever Young", "Rhythm of My Heart" and other songs from different stages of his career for "One Last Time". This is not a confirmed set list for Cleveland and the order may change, but it provides a good indication of the musical framework of the tour.
Stewart's range is considerably broader than the label of a classic rock performer. Throughout his career, he has moved through rock, pop, soul, R&B, folk and interpretations of standards from the Great American Songbook repertoire. That is precisely why the concert can work both for audiences who have known his albums for decades and for visitors who mainly recognize the biggest radio hits.
Ticket sales for this event are currently underway.
A tour built around songs the audience immediately recognizes
Rod Stewart belongs to the relatively small number of performers whose concert catalog can move from one musical era to another without long gaps in recognizability. "Maggie May" and "You Wear It Well" carry the sound of his early solo years, "Tonight's the Night" and "Hot Legs" belong to another phase of his dominance of rock and pop radio, while "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" and later hits expanded his audience far beyond the traditional rock circle.
His trademark remains his raspy, instantly recognizable voice. In songs such as "The First Cut Is the Deepest" or "Have I Told You Lately", the emphasis is on melody and interpretation, while songs such as "Hot Legs", "Infatuation" and "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" give the concert a more rhythmically and physically energetic section. This alternation of ballads, rock songs, soul and more dance-oriented material is important for understanding the format of "One Last Time": this is not an evening organized around only one phase of his discography.
The announcement of the 2026 tour specifically emphasizes a program packed with hits from Stewart's career. Among the songs highlighted by the organizers are "Every Picture Tells a Story", "Ooh La La", "Young Turks" and "Broken Arrow". This provides a considerably broader framework than a simple sequence of a few of the best-known singles.
- "Maggie May" and "You Wear It Well" represent the key early solo phase.
- "Tonight's the Night", "Hot Legs" and "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?" connect rock, pop and the more dance-oriented sound of the second half of the 1970s.
- "Infatuation", "Young Turks" and "Forever Young" open the program to material from later decades.
- "The First Cut Is the Deepest", "Have I Told You Lately" and "Rhythm of My Heart" bring out the more melodic and emotionally expressive side of the repertoire.
What recent performances reveal about the concert experience
The most useful indicator is not an imagined set list for Cleveland, but what Stewart has performed at previous stops on the same tour. At the concert at Northwell at Jones Beach Theater on July 31, 2026, the songs performed included "Infatuation", "Hot Legs", "Forever Young", "Tonight I'm Yours", "Tonight's the Night", "Maggie May", "Stay With Me", "Rhythm of My Heart", "Have I Told You Lately" and "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?", along with a number of covers.
That performance also demonstrates one important characteristic of Stewart's current concerts: the evening is not limited to songs that he originally released himself. The program includes compositions from the broader rock, soul and pop heritage, which Stewart adapts to his own vocal style. At the Jones Beach performance, among other things, the audience heard interpretations of songs associated with performers such as Bonnie Tyler, Etta James, Sam Cooke, The Impressions, Van Morrison, Creedence Clearwater Revival and The O'Jays.
That does not mean Cleveland will receive the same selection. The set list may change between tour dates, and individual guests from previous concerts do not constitute confirmation for Rocket Arena. What can be expected based on the available information is a format in which Stewart's biggest hits alternate with songs that demonstrate how strongly soul, rhythm and blues and classic rock influenced his performing identity.
This approach is particularly well suited to an audience that is not coming to the concert because of a single album. "One Last Time" functions more as an overview of a career than as a presentation of only a current release.
The current stage of his career is not just nostalgia
Although the concert program relies heavily on the familiar catalog, Stewart's recent recording phase shows that he has not limited himself to archival tours. The album "Swing Fever", recorded with Jools Holland and his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra, was released in 2024 as a collection of energetic interpretations of songs from the big band and swing tradition.
The album reached number one on the UK Albums Chart, giving Stewart his 11th album to top that chart. At the same time, the project served as a reminder of a part of his career that is sometimes overshadowed by the rock hits: his long-standing interest in standards, soul and music from the era before his own rise as a recording artist.
"Swing Fever" therefore provides useful context for Stewart today. He does not take the stage now as a performer tied to only one generation of rock music. His catalog includes songs created in different decades, while his recent work further connects that catalog with an even older American swing and big band heritage.
Tour organizers state that Stewart has sold more than 250 million albums and singles worldwide during his career. He has also been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice. Those figures help explain why "One Last Time" can build its program around familiar songs without needing to turn the concert into a retrospective with lengthy explanations between each period.
Richard Marx as the confirmed special guest
The Cleveland date has another important element: Richard Marx has been confirmed as the special guest. His participation is not speculation associated with other cities, but is specifically listed for the concert at Rocket Arena.
Marx is particularly recognizable to audiences who grew up with American pop and adult contemporary music of the late 1980s and early 1990s. His singles "Hold On to the Nights", "Satisfied" and "Right Here Waiting" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, while his catalog has also included songs such as "Hazard", "Endless Summer Nights" and "Now and Forever".
Such a guest is a good match for the main performer. Stewart and Marx have different vocal identities, but there is a clear connection in an audience that appreciates big melodies, radio-friendly rock production and ballads that have remained present in popular culture for decades.
It is important, however, to distinguish Marx's confirmed appearance from any possible joint performances. Richard Marx is confirmed for the evening, but the available information does not indicate that he will perform a particular song with Rod Stewart or appear during Stewart's main set. Such details should not be assumed in advance.
Rocket Arena changes the character of this concert
Rocket Arena is located at 1 Center Court in downtown Cleveland, in the Gateway District. It is a large multipurpose arena primarily known as the home of the Cleveland Cavaliers, but it also regularly hosts major concert productions. It has a capacity of 19,432 seats for basketball games, while the layout and total number of seats available for concerts vary depending on the stage and production configuration.
For the Rod Stewart concert, this means a different atmosphere from a summer amphitheater or stadium. The audience is distributed across multiple levels in an enclosed space, with a large portion of the seating oriented toward the central arena floor. The sense of proximity to the performer will therefore depend considerably on the section: the lower levels offer a more direct view toward the concert stage, while the upper levels provide a broader overview of the production and the entire audience.
When it comes to sound, it is useful to have realistic expectations. A large indoor arena is not acoustically the same as a theater or a small concert club. The final impression depends on the concert production, speaker placement and seating location. The advantage is a controlled indoor environment without the effects of rain, wind or other weather conditions that can alter the experience at outdoor summer venues.
Rocket Arena is currently undergoing certain infrastructure upgrades. Visitors should expect temporary effects from construction work on some escalators near Portals 7 and 62 and elevators near Portals 6 and 30. For people for whom accessibility is important, it is useful to allow additional time to move around inside the venue.
If Cleveland is part of the travel plan, it is worth securing tickets in good time.
Arriving by public transportation can avoid traffic around the arena
Rocket Arena's location in downtown makes public transportation particularly practical. The RTA network connects different parts of the greater Cleveland area with Tower City Center, while Tower City and the arena are linked by the enclosed RTA Walkway, approximately 1,050 feet long.
The walkway begins near the food court in Tower City Center and ends in the Rocket Arena lobby. For events, it opens three hours before the start and remains open for approximately three hours after the event ends. This is useful for visitors who want to avoid some of the street traffic immediately around the arena.
RTA also lists more than 7,000 free parking spaces at various rail stations throughout the system. For travelers arriving by car from outside downtown, a combination of parking at a more distant station and continuing by train may be simpler than driving into the Gateway District immediately before the concert.
For those who nevertheless arrive by car, the situation requires a little more planning. Great Day Improvements Garage and JACK Cleveland Casino Garage together accommodate around 3,300 vehicles, while additional garages and parking lots are located within a few minutes' walk of the venue. Capacity in the immediate vicinity is not unlimited, so arriving just before the start may mean spending more time in traffic.
The current road situation is particularly important. Due to construction around Rocket Arena, the eastbound I-90 exit toward E. 9th Street is closed, and additional traffic restrictions are in place on Huron Road and Ontario Street. Visitors relying on navigation should keep in mind that the usual route to the arena may not be the fastest one on the day of the concert.
What to check before entering
Rocket Arena uses security screening at its entrances. Venue rules allow bags and purses only up to the specified dimensions, while larger items may delay or prevent entry. The stated maximum bag size is 14 x 14 x 6 inches, provided that it can fit under the seat and does not obstruct the aisle.
Professional cameras with interchangeable or detachable lenses are not permitted. Outside food and beverages, bottles, cans, coolers, selfie sticks, tripods, large backpacks and other items listed in the venue's security rules are also prohibited. Mobile phones and binoculars are permitted subject to security screening.
The venue also enforces a no re-entry policy. Once a visitor has scanned a ticket, leaving the building generally means they cannot return. Rocket Arena is a smoke-free venue, including vaping.
Another practical detail for international visitors is the payment method. Rocket Arena does not accept cash for purchases inside the venue. Debit and credit cards as well as mobile wallets are used. There are locations inside the arena where cash can be exchanged for a card that can then be used for purchases.
- The concert begins at 7:30 PM.
- The venue address is 1 Center Court, Cleveland, Ohio 44115.
- Richard Marx is confirmed as the special guest.
- The door opening time for this concert is not listed on the current event page, so it should not be assumed based on other tour dates.
- Large bags and backpacks are not permitted, and allowed bags must be no larger than 14 x 14 x 6 inches.
- Re-entry after leaving the arena is not permitted.
- Current road restrictions around E. 9th Street, Huron Road and Ontario Street are particularly important for drivers.
Gateway District before and after the concert
The venue's location makes it possible for a visit to Cleveland to involve more than simply going from the hotel or parking area to a seat. The Gateway District brings together Rocket Arena, Progressive Field, East 4th Street, hotels and a large number of restaurants and bars within a relatively compact part of downtown.
For travelers arriving from another city, this means that a car is not necessary for every part of the evening. After arriving downtown, much of the area around the arena can be covered on foot, while East 4th Street is located within the same broader entertainment district. This can be practical for an earlier meal before the concert or a short stay after it ends, especially if the simultaneous wave of cars leaving the garages is avoided.
The concert schedule itself also suits such a plan. A 7:30 PM start allows arrival downtown earlier in the afternoon or early evening without needing to concentrate the entire visit into the final few minutes before the performance.
The most important thing is not to rely on a route or arrival time that would be sufficient on an ordinary day. Construction around the Gateway District and the large number of event visitors can change the traffic situation, so allowing extra time is more useful than trying to arrive immediately before the start.
Who will find this concert especially interesting
The most obvious audience is long-time Rod Stewart fans who want to hear an overview of his career in a large-scale concert format. The tour is designed specifically around hits from multiple decades, so there is no need to be familiar with only one album or one period.
The second group consists of classic pop and rock listeners for whom Stewart may not be the only favorite performer, but who know songs such as "Maggie May", "Forever Young", "The First Cut Is the Deepest", "Rhythm of My Heart" or "Da Ya Think I'm Sexy?". The concert is accessible precisely because much of the material has had a strong life beyond the original albums.
The third group is an audience for whom the combination of Rod Stewart and Richard Marx makes the evening more appealing than a standalone performance. Marx brings his own catalog of major pop and rock ballads, so the entire program covers a broad range of music that shaped radio from the 1970s through the 1990s and remained recognizable decades later.
Cleveland is also part of a compact summer series of Stewart's U.S. dates. According to the current tour schedule, the performance at Rocket Arena falls between dates in Ohio and subsequent dates in the American Midwest, after which Stewart returns to his series of performances in Las Vegas. This makes Cleveland one of the arenas on the continuation of a tour that originally began back in 2024.
For visitors, the most useful approach is to arrive expecting an evening built around a recognizable voice, a large backing ensemble, a series of familiar choruses and songs that cross the boundaries between rock, pop and soul. What should not be expected is a guaranteed song-by-song reconstruction of any earlier concert: current performances provide a good framework, but Cleveland may receive a different selection and order.
It is worth securing tickets in good time and checking current traffic information and Rocket Arena entry rules before departure.
Sources:
- Rocket Arena - Rod Stewart: ONE LAST TIME event page, used for the date, start time, venue, special guest, address and current information about construction work in the arena.
- Rocket Arena - 2026 tour announcement, used to confirm Richard Marx's appearance, tour context, announced repertoire framework, career information and the schedule of selected dates.
- Rod Stewart - official artist website, used for the current tour schedule and biographical context.
- Official Charts - information about the album "Swing Fever" and its number-one position on the UK Albums Chart.
- Jools Holland - information about "Swing Fever", the collaboration with Rhythm & Blues Orchestra and the album's concept.
- setlist.fm - documented repertoire from Rod Stewart's concert at Northwell at Jones Beach Theater on July 31, 2026, used exclusively as an example of a previous performance, not as a prediction of the Cleveland set list.
- Apple Music - biographical and discographical information about Richard Marx and his best-known singles.
- Rocket Arena - Transportation, Parking & Directions and Security Policies, used for the RTA Walkway, parking, road construction, security screening, bag rules, re-entry and payment methods.
- Rocket Arena - Gateway District, used for the location context, East 4th Street, accommodation, restaurants and amenities around the venue.
- Associated Press - information about Rocket Arena, including the capacity of 19,432 seats in the basketball configuration.